Disability-Related Accommodations
Utah State University welcomes students with disabilities. As a university, we are committed to full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and all other relevant disability laws. The University is committed to providing students with disabilities reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids necessary to provide equal access.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided if:
1. They are necessary for equal access (i.e., there is reliable information establishing a connection between the disability‑related functional limitations and the need for accommodation in order to provide the student with an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the University’s programs, services, or activities).
2. They do not impose an undue hardship on the University or fundamentally alter the essential nature of its programs, services, or activities.
Requesting Accommodations
Students who need accommodations or academic adjustments should submit an application to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and meet with an Accessibility Consultant. Accommodations may be requested for anything related to the university experience including placement exams, on‑campus housing, study abroad programs, university events and activities, clinical or internship placements, etc. The DRC coordinates accommodations for all USU students, regardless of their location.
Students are responsible for communicating accommodation requests to the Disability Resource Center in a timely fashion. Accommodations are typically not applied retroactively. Students are also responsible for communicating with the DRC any time an accommodation is not working effectively or when additional accommodations become necessary.
While instructors may implement temporary or informal supports consistent with the policies and procedures in their individual course, only accommodations approved through the Disability Resource Center constitute official disability‑related accommodations. USU employees should refer all student requests for accommodation to the Disability Resource Center.
Interactive Process
Accommodation decisions are made on an individualized, case‑by‑case basis through an interactive process coordinated by the DRC. This process may include discussion of disability‑related functional limitations, review of documentation, consideration of the student’s experience with prior accommodations, and collaboration with faculty or other university offices as appropriate. The goal of the interactive process is to identify effective accommodations that provide equal access without fundamentally altering essential elements of a program, service, or activity.
Grievance Process
Students who disagree with an accommodation decision or believe an approved accommodation is not being implemented appropriately are encouraged to follow the the DRC’s grievance procedures.
Confidentiality
The DRC is committed to keeping information related to a student’s disability confidential in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Documentation submitted to the DRC is stored in secure electronic files separate from other academic records. Only DRC staff have immediate access to these files.
Faculty and staff may communicate with students regarding the implementation of DRC‑approved accommodations. However, faculty and staff should not ask students questions about the nature of their disability, and they are not permitted to request, review, or retain disability‑related medical or diagnostic documentation. Any questions related to disability documentation or the appropriateness of an accommodation should be directed to the Disability Resource Center.
In compliance with federal regulations, the DRC may share a limited amount of disability‑related information with university personnel who demonstrate a legitimate need to know. Student transcripts and other university records will not indicate DRC participation.
Disability Resource Center
Executive Director: David Pruden
Location: University Inn 101
Phone: (435) 797‑2444
E‑mail: drc@usu.edu
Website: http://www.usu.edu/drc
